buttery



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. W. BUTTERY. BILLIARD TABLE.

Inventor Wit r1 esse S 8 UNITED STATES ATENT Fries.

\VALTER BUTTERY, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO JAMES SAMUEL BURROUGI-IES, OF SAME PLACE.

BlLLlARD-TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 459,957, dated September 22, 1891.

Application filed December 10, 1890. Serial No. 374.187. (No model.) Patented in England December 13, 1886, No. 16,828, and March 9,1889. 110.4,167; in Victoria August 21, 1888,1111, 6,090, and February 8,1890,No. 7,482,- in New South Wales August 24, 1888, No. 892, and February 8, 1890, No. 2,009. and in India September 22, 1888, N0. 433, and May 22, 1890, No.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I,WALTER BUTTERY, a subject of the Queen of England, residing at London, in the county of London and Kingdom of England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Construction of Billiard-Tables, (for which I have obtained Letters Patent in Great Britain, No. 16,328, bearing date December 13,1886, and No.4,167, :0 bearing date March 9, 1889; in Victoria, Australia, No. 6,090, dated August 21, 1888, and No. 7,482, dated'February 8, 1890; in New South WVales, No. 892, dated August 24, 1888, and No. 2,009, dated February 8,1890; in India, No. 433, dated September 22, 1888, and No. 1,096, dated May 22,1890) of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of billiard-tables; and the objects of my improvements are, first, to prevent the cushion-frame and rubber block from becoming loose and to provide a more rigid groundwork for the rubber, so as to give a greater resistance to the impact of the balls in playing; second, to afford facility for the proper fixing and straining of the cloth over the cushion without fear of causing a dislocation or separation between the cushion-frame and the rubber block and a perfectly-even 0 surface insured upon the top of the cushion. I attain these objects by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a cross-section through a cush- 5 ion-frame and rubber block embodying my improvement-s; Fig. 2, a similar section with cushion-frame detached; and Fig. 3, a crosssection through a cushion, showing my improved means of fixing and straining the cloth o over the cushion applied to a billiard-frame and cushion of an ordinary construction.

Similar letters refer to similar parts th roughout the Several views.

Upon reference to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seen that I place a metal plate 0 between the cushion-frame A and the rubber block 15, securely fixing it to the slab or bed of the table D by screws E and nuts E', attach the rubber block B thereto by the screws G, and secure the cushion-frame A to the metal plate C by means of the projections F on the one taking into corresponding grooves on the other, and by screws G passed through the frame Ainto the plate C; also, that the cushion-cloth K is secured in a groove or recess l at the back of the metal plate 0 by means of the Wedge H, Fig. 3 showing this arrangement for stretching and fastening the cushion-cloth applied to a cushion-frame of ordinary construction.

In the ordinary construction of billiard-tables the shrinking or warping of the rubber block causes it to separate from the cushionframe, and vice versa, the rigidity of the whole being thus destroyed. The speed of the ball, when it strikes the cushion, is also thereby diminished, and the cushion makes a noise very objectionable to the player. With my metal plate 0 the rubber block always finds a firm support, and should it or the metal plate ,by any possibility become loose the cushionframe is easily removed for the purpose of tightening either, and is as readily replaced when this is effected, whereas in the ordinary construction the tightening of these parts is a long, troublesome, and expensive operation. I do not, however, limit myself to the precise construction which I have described and illustrated on the drawings, although I find it to answer well, as I may otherwise secure my metal plate to the bed of the table and combine it with the cushion-frame and rubber block. The plate may be of iron, of steel, or of any suitable metal. Slate even might be used, but is objectionable by reason of its weight and liability to fracture, and of whatever dimensions may in practice be found most desirable, one plate extending the entire distance from pocket to pocket or several lengths of plates being used. 0

The ordinary method of fixing and straining the cloth over the cushion is by means of a vertical recess or groove formed on the top of the rubber block where it joins the cushionframe when in place, and the cloth is stretched 5 or tightened over the rubber block by means of a wedge-shaped slip of wood driving it into this recess. This construction is open to the objection that if the wedge is very forcibly driven in it may loosen the attachment of the cushion-frame to the table, depriving it of the rigidity which is so desirable, and my improved construction being specially exposed to this danger, owing to the unyielding nature of my metal plate, I have found it necessary to devise a means of obviating this objection, which I have done by placing the stretching and fastening recess or groove I at the back of the metal plate 0, (see Figs. 1 and 2.) securing the cloth K therein by the wedge II, driven in horizontally upon a solid piece instead of in a downward vertical direction between movable parts of the cushion. This arrangement also avoids the irregularities which often occur upon the top of the cushion by the wedge H having been driven in unequally, some projecting above the rubber block B and others being driven below its horizontal surface.

This improvement is shown at Fig. 3 applied to a cushion-frame of ordinary construction-that is to say, where my metal plate 0 is not used.

The recess orgroove maybe of any desired dimensions. I may even simply make a sawcut along the back of the rubber block and secure the cloth therein by driving it in with a thin metal plate. While I have stated that the recess in which the wedge is driven for fastening the cloth is in the support, I desire it to be understood that I consider a recess and wedge in the same relative position in the back of the cushion the equivalent thereof.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patout, is-

1. In a bilIiardtable, and in combination, a cushion, a support therefor having a horizontal recess below its upper face, and a wedge H, adapted to be driven in said recess for securing the cloth in place, substantially as described.

2. In a billiard-table, the combination, with the cushion and its supporting-frame, of a metallic plate 0, forming a backing for said cushion, and independent means for securing the cushion to the metal plate, the metal plate to the body of the table, and the metal plate to the cushion-frame.

3. In a billiard-table, the combination; with the cushion and its supporting-frame, of a metallic plate 0, forming a backing for said cushion, said plate having a horizontal groove or recess formed therein, and a wedge I-I, adapted to be driven in said groove or recess for securing the cloth in position, substantially as described.

IVALTER BUTTERY. lVitnesses:

GEO. J. B. FRANKLIN, WALKER J. SKERTEN, Both of 17 Gracechm'ch 86., London, E. C. 

